Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c26.s6.t5.1

v1.c26.s6.t5.1

No unfired retort containing the original charge prior to firing has been recovered. Thus the composition of the mixed charge subjected to retort smelting and distillation can only be speculated upon. *Rasaratnasamuccaya* (2.157-164) mentioned a number of carbonaceous ingredients included in the zinc-smelting charge : turmeric powder, soot, lac treacle, mustard, clarified butter etc. These could serve both as reductant as well as binding agents to produce the 1 cm³ pellets. However it is doubtful whether the fancy organic reagents were used in mass-scale production. Hegde suggested (1989: 94) that light, thin cow-dung cakes might have been used as fuel in the furnace. The same material or charcoal (Freestone *et al.*, 1985b: 11) could have been used as the reductant and as a constituent of the pellet inside the retort.